Portland Bill Lighthouse Dorset GB0CPB Writen by Dave G1OCN

An early (0800hrs) start was achieved on the Saturday morning at Portland Bill Lighthouse for the I.L.L.W. 2006 event.

Plans for two H.F. stations had been agreed by the participants for both days. Russell, G5XW and I for Saturday and Mike, M3VWK and Russell for the Sunday.

On the east side of the tower a Carolina Windom special was strung from the Davy Escape Equipment fair leads, sloping north east, resulting in a very long length of feeder to reach the Day Room in the west garden.

It took approximately 50 minutes to sort the east side Windom out after the antenna, feeder and support lines became entangled whilst trying to lower the contraption over the side of the tower. I blame the westerly 20 knot wind rushing around the tower entirely! Working one handed didn't help either.

Daves Antenna

The transceiver used for the east side Windom was the Kenwood TS480 HX. This was to be the first time that the HX was going to get a chance to try out it's full 200w output.

The Day Room in the west garden is the usual location for the shack and there are all the comforts of home, with a kitchen, a nice size table for the equipment and an easy chair with a view north to the Old Higher Lighthouse, ENG 108 and slightly east to the Old Lower Lighthouse ENG109.

My kit was soon up and running. A few cautionary tests from 50W through to the (indicated) 200W from 80M through to 6M and all was ready.

Dave on the Mic!

At 0930 (local) the first QSO took place with Keith GM3VTY of the W.A.B. (Worked All Britain Group) along with Brian G0BFJ and Ivan G3GKC. These three were goods tests for the 40 and 80M bands with good signal reports sent and received.

Russell on the old style log book hi hi

Russell arrived a little later than expected and wasn't feeling %100 fit but was keen to get amongst the activity of the day. Russell set up his Windom as an inverted V from his Land Rover on the west wall and was up and running very quickly. We had planned for his Windom to be hanging from the west side of the tower but it was quicker and easier at the time to go for the easier option. Apart from anything else, it was a bit windy still.

Russells Windom

A total of 109 QSOs were made in about ten hours on the Saturday with the 480HX and the east side Windom on 80, 40, 20 and 10 meter bands. Calls were made on 50.110 but no replies or other activity was heard on the band. Apart from the 50Amp power supply feeling a bit warm to the touch at the end of the day, all equipment worked flawlessly... ...Nice one Kenwood !

Best DX was with Mike, PY5HOT on 17M and the nice surprise was a brief QSO with Ram, VU3DJQ from Delhi on 20m, who responded to my CQ call.

Russell achieved a total of 55 QSOs in 18 DXCC with the best to a N8.

Some satellite activity was planned but a vital connector had been mislaid during the initial equipment gathering and selection. (Apologies satellite
fans.)

Sunday:

I had to work, Portland Bill Lighthouse is my place of work, but I didn't want to miss out on any of the action, so having heard from Russell that he wasn't well enough to travel, I slung the trusty old PALSTAR end fed wire down the east side of the tower, and in amongst the visitors to the tower, made 10 QSOs in to the EU with the YAESU FT707.

Mike, M3VWK arrived in the early afternoon and set up his station along side the west wall and used his home brew 20m dipole for the rest of the afternoon, which resulted in several good QSO's in to the EU. Mike uses a Kenwood TS570.

GB1CPB, relating to GB One Century Portland Bill, to mark its 100 years operation, has been on the air since 11th January 2006 and will be active most days, except Saturday, on 7.060 or 14.265MHz, until 11th January 2007.

Please see QRZ.COM for QSL details and an aerial view of Portland Bill Lighthouse with some history of the lighthouse and operational details.

Team Members Dave G1OCN Russell G5XW Mike M3VWK

QSL Via Russell G5XW

For more info on the World Lighthouse Weekend CLICK HERE.